PSG VS ARSENAL
7:45 PM WAT
13/09/2016
Arsene Wenger has reiterated it is his love for Arsenal which has stopped him taking the managerial job at Paris St Germain despite continued interest from the French club's owners.7:45 PM WAT
13/09/2016
The 66-year-old takes his Arsenal side to face PSG in their opening Champions League Group A fixture of the season on Tuesday night as he closes in on 20 years in charge of the Gunners.
October will mark Wenger's managerial milestone but in recent years he has become a target for PSG and their wealthy backers, Qatari Sports Investments.
According to L'Equipe, they have tried three times to recruit Wenger but were knocked back in 2011, 2013 and 2014 as he opted to remain at the Emirates Stadium - despite enduring a decade-long run without silverware in recent times.
And Wenger insists it is his passion for Arsenal which has kept him in north London rather than take him back to his homeland.
Asked why he had not said yes to any of PSG's overtures, he replied: "Because I love where I am.
"I know well the owners (of PSG), but I feel always I remained loyal to Arsenal Football Club because I think it's a club that has the qualities I love. And, that's why.
"I like to come to Paris. It's a city I love, it's my country, a country I love. PSG are a good test for us. They're a team who are, in France, the team above everyone else.
"In France they always produce good football teams and players, so it's exciting to come to this city and compare to where we are this season compared to everyone else."
Current PSG boss Unai Emery has seen his start to life at the club begin with a stutter and the Ligue 1 champions sit seventh after taking one point from their last two outings.
The former Sevilla coach, who delivered three successive Europa League titles at Sevilla before leaving in the summer, declared his admiration for Wenger ahead of the meeting on Tuesday night.
And despite PSG's relatively poor start to the season, Wenger is expecting a tough test as he looks to guide Arsenal into the last 16 of the Champions League for the 17th consecutive season.
"I think PSG were missing a number of players (in recent games)," he said.
"They had certain players who joined up a bit later, like us. Similar problems to the ones we face, but we'll see.
"I think they missed a number of players at the back. They were at the same hotel as us in Los Angeles and Thiago Silva got injured there. He's an important player for them.
"But they're clearly superior in the domestic league, so I expect a slightly different PSG in the Champions League."
PSG skipper Thiago has yet to feature this season after the injury suffered against Real Madrid in the friendly in the United States but Emery hopes he could feature against the Gunners.
Arsenal, too, have been given a defensive boost with the news Laurent Koscielny should be fit to take his place at the Parc des Princes.
The 31-year-old suffered a facial injury in Saturday's 2-1 win over Southampton having drawn the Gunners level with a superb overhead kick on his birthday.
Emery is keen to involve Thiago Silva, who has not played for his club since a pre-season friendly against Real Madrid due to injury.
"Big matches are for big players," he added.
"We will decide after the final training session. We will see how he feels. The most important thing is if he feels ready. He is a big player. If he feels good, it is a possibility."
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